HB4952 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB100 18763 MJP 33999 b

100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2017 and 2018
HB4952

Introduced , by Rep. Arthur Turner

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

415 ILCS 5/57.5
415 ILCS 5/57.8
415 ILCS 5/57.9
415 ILCS 5/57.11

Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Provides that for an underground storage tank release reported on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act, an owner or operator may access the Underground Storage Tank Fund for costs associated with an Environmental Protection Agency approved plan, and the Agency shall approve the payment of costs associated with corrective action without the application of a deductible, except a $5,000 deductible shall apply to an owner or operator of an underground storage tank that is not registered under the Gasoline Storage Act. Makes changes, applicable to a release reported on or after the effective date, to provisions concerning payments from the Underground Storage Tank Fund for an application for payment from the Fund for an approved plan and budget for a tank that is registered under the Gasoline Storage Act. Provides that if a full payment is not made within specified periods for the applications for these registered tanks, then the Fund must pay the owner or operator 2% interest per month on any unpaid amount until the owner or operator is fully paid. Provides that if the balance in the Underground Storage Tank Fund falls below $10,000,000 for a period of 6 months, then the 2% percent monthly interest payments shall be suspended until the Fund balance is above $10,000,000. Makes other changes. Effective January 1, 2019.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning safety.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Environmental Protection Act is amended by changing Sections 57.5, 57.8, 57.9, and 57.11 as follows:

(415 ILCS 5/57.5)

Sec. 57.5. Underground Storage Tanks; removal; repair; abandonment.

(a) Notwithstanding the eligibility or the level of deductibility of an owner or operator under the Underground Storage Tank Fund, any owner or operator of an Underground Storage Tank may seek to remove or abandon such tank under the provisions of this Title. In order to be reimbursed under Section 57.8, the owner or operator must comply with the provisions of this Title. Except for interest accrued under paragraph (2.5) of subsection (a) of Section 57.8, in In no event will an owner or operator be reimbursed for any costs which exceed the minimum requirements necessary to comply with this Title.

(b) Removal or abandonment of an Underground Storage Tank must be carried out in accordance with regulations adopted by the Office of State Fire Marshal.

(c) The Office of the State Fire Marshal or a designated agent shall have an inspector on site at the time of removal, abandonment, or such other times the Office of State Fire Marshal deems appropriate. At such time, the inspector shall, upon preliminary excavation of the tank site, render an opinion as to whether a release of petroleum has occurred and, if so, the owner or operator shall report the known or suspected release to the Illinois Emergency Management Agency. The owner or operator shall determine whether or not a release has occurred in conformance with the regulations adopted by the Board and the Office of the State Fire Marshal. Except that if the opinion of the Office of the State Fire Marshal inspector is that a release of petroleum has occurred and the owner or operator has reported the release to the Illinois Emergency Management Agency within 24 hours of removal of the tank, no such determination is required under this subsection. In the event the owner or operator confirms the presence of a release of petroleum, the owner or operator shall comply with Section 57.6. The inspector shall provide the owner or operator, or a designated agent, with an "Eligibility and Deductibility Determination" form. The Office of the State Fire Marshal shall provide on-site assistance to the owner or operator or a designated agent with regard to the eligibility and deductibility procedures as provided in Section 57.9. If the Office of the State Fire Marshal is not on site, the Office of the State Fire Marshal shall provide the owner or operator with an "Eligibility and Deductibility Determination" form within 15 days after receiving notice that the confirmed release was reported by the owner or operator.

(d) In the event that a release of petroleum is confirmed under subsection (c) of this Section, the owner or operator may elect to backfill the preliminary excavation and proceed under Section 57.6.

(e) In the event that an Underground Storage Tank is found to be ineligible for payment from the Underground Storage Tank Fund, the owner or operator shall proceed under Sections 57.6 and 57.7.

(f) In the event that no release of petroleum is confirmed, the owner or operator shall proceed to complete the removal of the underground storage tank, and when appropriate, dispose of the tank and backfill the excavation or, in the alternate, abandon the underground storage tank in place. Either option shall be in accordance with regulations adopted by the Office of the State Fire Marshal. The owner or operator shall certify to the Office of the State Fire Marshal that the tank removal or abandonment was conducted in accordance with all applicable rules and regulations, and the Office of the State Fire Marshal shall then issue a certificate of removal or abandonment to the owner or operator. If the Office of the State Fire Marshal fails to issue a certificate of removal or abandonment within 30 days of receipt of the certification, the certification shall be considered rejected by operation of law and a final action appealable to the Board. Nothing in this Title shall prohibit the Office of the State Fire Marshal from making an independent inspection of the site and challenging the veracity of the owner or operator certification.

(g) The owner or operator of an underground storage tank taken out of operation before January 2, 1974, or an underground storage tank used exclusively to store heating oil for consumptive use on the premises where stored and which serves other than a farm or residential unit shall not be required to remove or abandon in place such underground storage tank except in the case in which the Office of the State Fire Marshal has determined that a release from the underground storage tank poses a current or potential threat to human health and the environment. In that case, and upon receipt of an order from the Office of the State Fire Marshal, the owner or operator of such underground storage tank shall conduct removal and, if necessary, site investigation and corrective action in accordance with this Title and regulations promulgated by the Office of State Fire Marshal and the Board.

(h) In the event that a release of petroleum occurred between September 13, 1993, and August 1, 1994, for which the Office of the State Fire Marshal issued a certificate of removal or abandonment based on its determination of "no release" or "minor release," and the Office of the State Fire Marshal subsequently has rescinded that determination and required a report of a confirmed release to the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, the owner or operator may be eligible for reimbursement for the costs of site investigation and corrective action incurred on or after the date of the release but prior to the notification of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency. The date of the release shall be the date of the initial inspection by the Office of the State Fire Marshal as recorded in its inspection log. Eligibility and deductibility shall be determined in accordance with this Title, the owner or operator must comply with the provisions of this Act and its rules, and in no case shall the owner or operator be reimbursed for costs exceeding the minimum requirements of this Act and its rules.

(Source: P.A. 92-554, eff. 6-24-02.)

(415 ILCS 5/57.8)

Sec. 57.8. Underground Storage Tank Fund; payment; options for State payment; deferred correction election to commence corrective action upon availability of funds. If an owner or operator is eligible to access the Underground Storage Tank Fund pursuant to an Office of State Fire Marshal eligibility/deductible final determination letter issued in accordance with Section 57.9, the owner or operator may submit a complete application for final or partial payment to the Agency for activities taken in response to a confirmed release. An owner or operator may submit a request for partial or final payment regarding a site no more frequently than once every 90 days.

(a) Payment after completion of corrective action measures. The owner or operator may submit an application for payment for activities performed at a site after completion of the requirements of Sections 57.6 and 57.7, or after completion of any other required activities at the underground storage tank site.

(1) This paragraph applies to a release reported under Section 57.5 before the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly.

In the case of any approved plan and budget for which payment is being sought, the Agency shall make a payment determination within 120 days of receipt of the application. Such determination shall be considered a final decision. The Agency's review shall be limited to generally accepted auditing and accounting practices. In no case shall the Agency conduct additional review of any plan which was completed within the budget, beyond auditing for adherence to the corrective action measures in the proposal. If the Agency fails to approve the payment application within 120 days, such application shall be deemed approved by operation of law and the Agency shall proceed to reimburse the owner or operator the amount requested in the payment application. However, in no event shall the Agency reimburse the owner or operator an amount greater than the amount approved in the plan.

(2) This paragraph applies to a release reported under Section 57.5 before the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly. If sufficient funds are available in the Underground Storage Tank Fund, the Agency shall, within 60 days, forward to the Office of the State Comptroller a voucher in the amount approved under the payment application.

(2.5) This paragraph applies to a release reported under Section 57.5 on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly.

In the case of an application for an approved plan that is at or under a budget approved by the Agency for a tank registered under the Gasoline Storage Act, the Agency shall have 30 days from receipt of the application to make a payment determination and, if sufficient funds are available in the Underground Storage Tank Fund, to forward to the Office of the State Comptroller a voucher in the amount approved under the payment application. The determination shall be considered a final decision. The Agency's review shall be limited to generally accepted auditing and accounting practices. In no case shall the Agency conduct additional review of any plan which was completed within the budget, beyond auditing for adherence to the corrective action measures in the proposal. If the Agency fails to approve the payment application within 30 days, then the application shall be deemed approved by operation of law and the Agency shall proceed to reimburse the owner or operator the amount requested in the payment application. If a full payment is not made within 30 days of receipt of the application, then the Fund must pay the owner or operator 2% interest per month on any unpaid amount until the owner or operator is fully paid.

In the case of an application for an approved plan that is over a budget approved by the Agency for a tank that is registered under the Gasoline Storage Act, the Agency shall have 60 days from receipt of the application to make a payment determination and, if sufficient funds are available in the Underground Storage Tank Fund, 30 days from the date of the payment determination to forward to the Office of the State Comptroller a voucher in the amount approved under the payment application. The determination shall be considered a final decision. The Agency's review shall be limited to generally accepted auditing and accounting practices. In no case shall the Agency conduct additional review of any plan which was completed within the budget, beyond auditing for adherence to the corrective action measures in the proposal. If the Agency fails to approve the payment application within 60 days, then the application shall be deemed approved by operation of law and the Agency shall proceed to reimburse the owner or operator the amount requested in the payment application. If a full payment is not made within 30 days of the date that the voucher is forwarded to the Comptroller, then the Fund must pay the owner or operator 2% interest per month on any unpaid amount until the owner or operator is fully paid.

Except for interest accrued under this paragraph, in no event shall the Agency reimburse the owner or operator an amount greater than the amount approved in the plan.

If the balance in the Underground Storage Tank Fund falls below $10,000,000 for a period of 6 months, then the 2% percent monthly interest payments under this paragraph shall be suspended until the Fund balance is above $10,000,000.

(3) In the case of insufficient funds, the Agency shall form a priority list for payment and shall notify persons in such priority list monthly of the availability of funds and when payment shall be made. Payment shall be made to the owner or operator at such time as sufficient funds become available for the costs associated with site investigation and corrective action and costs expended for activities performed where no proposal is required, if applicable. Such priority list shall be available to any owner or operator upon request. Priority for payment shall be determined by the date the Agency receives a complete request for partial or final payment. Upon receipt of notification from the Agency that the requirements of this Title have been met, the Comptroller shall make payment to the owner or operator of the amount approved by the Agency, if sufficient money exists in the Fund. If there is insufficient money in the Fund, then payment shall not be made. If the owner or operator appeals a final Agency payment determination and it is determined that the owner or operator is eligible for payment or additional payment, the priority date for the payment or additional payment shall be the same as the priority date assigned to the original request for partial or final payment.

(4) Any deductible, as determined pursuant to the Office of the State Fire Marshal's eligibility and deductibility final determination in accordance with Section 57.9, shall be subtracted from any payment invoice paid to an eligible owner or operator. Only one deductible shall apply per underground storage tank site.

(5) In the event that costs are or will be incurred in addition to those approved by the Agency, or after payment, the owner or operator may submit successive plans containing amended budgets. The requirements of Section 57.7 shall apply to any amended plans.

(6) For purposes of this Section, a complete application shall consist of:

(A) A certification from a Licensed Professional Engineer or Licensed Professional Geologist as required under this Title and acknowledged by the owner or operator.

(B) A statement of the amounts approved in the budget and the amounts actually sought for payment along with a certified statement by the owner or operator that the amounts so sought were expended in conformance with the approved budget.

(C) A copy of the Office of the State Fire Marshal's eligibility and deductibility determination.

(D) Proof that approval of the payment requested will not result in the limitations set forth in subsection (g) of this Section being exceeded.

(E) A federal taxpayer identification number and legal status disclosure certification on a form prescribed and provided by the Agency.

(F) If the Agency determined under subsection (c)(3) of Section 57.7 of this Act that corrective action must include a project labor agreement, a certification from the owner or operator that the corrective action was (i) performed under a project labor agreement that meets the requirements of Section 25 of the Project Labor Agreements Act and (ii) implemented in a manner consistent with the terms and conditions of the Project Labor Agreements Act and in full compliance with all statutes, regulations, and Executive Orders as required under that Act and the Prevailing Wage Act.

(b) Commencement of site investigation or corrective action upon availability of funds. The Board shall adopt regulations setting forth procedures based on risk to human health or the environment under which the owner or operator who has received approval for any budget plan submitted pursuant to Section 57.7, and who is eligible for payment from the Underground Storage Tank Fund pursuant to an Office of the State Fire Marshal eligibility and deductibility determination, may elect to defer site investigation or corrective action activities until funds are available in an amount equal to the amount approved in the budget. The regulations shall establish criteria based on risk to human health or the environment to be used for determining on a site-by-site basis whether deferral is appropriate. The regulations also shall establish the minimum investigatory requirements for determining whether the risk based criteria are present at a site considering deferral and procedures for the notification of owners or operators of insufficient funds, Agency review of request for deferral, notification of Agency final decisions, returning deferred sites to active status, and earmarking of funds for payment.

(c) When the owner or operator requests indemnification for payment of costs incurred as a result of a release of petroleum from an underground storage tank, if the owner or operator has satisfied the requirements of subsection (a) of this Section, the Agency shall forward a copy of the request to the Attorney General. The Attorney General shall review and approve the request for indemnification if:

(1) there is a legally enforceable judgment entered against the owner or operator and such judgment was entered due to harm caused by a release of petroleum from an underground storage tank and such judgment was not entered as a result of fraud; or

(2) a settlement with a third party due to a release of petroleum from an underground storage tank is reasonable.

(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Title, the Agency shall not approve payment to an owner or operator from the Fund for costs of corrective action or indemnification incurred during a calendar year in excess of the following aggregate amounts based on the number of petroleum underground storage tanks owned or operated by such owner or operator in Illinois.

Amount Number of Tanks

$2,000,000........................fewer than 101

$3,000,000................................101 or more

(1) Costs incurred in excess of the aggregate amounts set forth in paragraph (1) of this subsection shall not be eligible for payment in subsequent years.

(2) For purposes of this subsection, requests submitted by any of the agencies, departments, boards, committees or commissions of the State of Illinois shall be acted upon as claims from a single owner or operator.

(3) For purposes of this subsection, owner or operator includes (i) any subsidiary, parent, or joint stock company of the owner or operator and (ii) any company owned by any parent, subsidiary, or joint stock company of the owner or operator.

(e) Costs of corrective action or indemnification incurred by an owner or operator which have been paid to an owner or operator under a policy of insurance, another written agreement, or a court order are not eligible for payment under this Section. An owner or operator who receives payment under a policy of insurance, another written agreement, or a court order shall reimburse the State to the extent such payment covers costs for which payment was received from the Fund. Any monies received by the State under this subsection (e) shall be deposited into the Fund.

(f) (Blank.)

(g) The Agency shall not approve any payment from the Fund to pay an owner or operator:

(1) for costs of corrective action incurred by such owner or operator in an amount in excess of $1,500,000 per occurrence; and

(2) for costs of indemnification of such owner or operator in an amount in excess of $1,500,000 per occurrence.

(h) Payment of any amount from the Fund for corrective action or indemnification shall be subject to the State acquiring by subrogation the rights of any owner, operator, or other person to recover the costs of corrective action or indemnification for which the Fund has compensated such owner, operator, or person from the person responsible or liable for the release.

(i) If the Agency refuses to pay or authorizes only a partial payment, the affected owner or operator may petition the Board for a hearing in the manner provided for the review of permit decisions in Section 40 of this Act.

(j) Costs of corrective action or indemnification incurred by an owner or operator prior to July 28, 1989, shall not be eligible for payment or reimbursement under this Section.

(k) The Agency shall not pay costs of corrective action or indemnification incurred before providing notification of the release of petroleum in accordance with the provisions of this Title.

(l) Corrective action does not include legal defense costs. Legal defense costs include legal costs for seeking payment under this Title unless the owner or operator prevails before the Board in which case the Board may authorize payment of legal fees.

(m) The Agency may apportion payment of costs for plans submitted under Section 57.7 if:

(1) the owner or operator was deemed eligible to access the Fund for payment of corrective action costs for some, but not all, of the underground storage tanks at the site; and

(2) the owner or operator failed to justify all costs attributable to each underground storage tank at the site.

(n) The Agency shall not pay costs associated with a corrective action plan incurred after the Agency provides notification to the owner or operator pursuant to item (7) of subsection (b) of Section 57.7 that a revised corrective action plan is required. Costs associated with any subsequently approved corrective action plan shall be eligible for reimbursement if they meet the requirements of this Title.

(Source: P.A. 98-109, eff. 7-25-13.)

(415 ILCS 5/57.9)

Sec. 57.9. Underground Storage Tank Fund; eligibility and deductibility.

(a) The Underground Storage Tank Fund shall be accessible by owners and operators who have a confirmed release from an underground storage tank or related tank system of a substance listed in this Section. The owner or operator is eligible to access the Underground Storage Tank Fund if the eligibility requirements of this Title are satisfied and:

(1) Neither the owner nor the operator is the United States Government.

(2) The tank does not contain fuel which is exempt from the Motor Fuel Tax Law.

(3) The costs were incurred as a result of a confirmed release of any of the following substances:

(A) "Fuel", as defined in Section 1.19 of the Motor Fuel Tax Law.

(B) Aviation fuel.

(C) Heating oil.

(D) Kerosene.

(E) Used oil which has been refined from crude oil used in a motor vehicle, as defined in Section 1.3 of the Motor Fuel Tax Law.

(4) The owner or operator registered the tank and paid all fees in accordance with the statutory and regulatory requirements of the Gasoline Storage Act.

(5) The owner or operator notified the Illinois Emergency Management Agency of a confirmed release, the costs were incurred after the notification and the costs were a result of a release of a substance listed in this Section. Costs of corrective action or indemnification incurred before providing that notification shall not be eligible for payment.

(6) The costs have not already been paid to the owner or operator under a private insurance policy, other written agreement, or court order.

(7) The costs were associated with "corrective action" of this Act.

If the underground storage tank which experienced a release of a substance listed in this Section was installed after July 28, 1989, the owner or operator is eligible to access the Underground Storage Tank Fund if it is demonstrated to the Office of the State Fire Marshal the tank was installed and operated in accordance with Office of the State Fire Marshal regulatory requirements. Office of the State Fire Marshal certification is prima facie evidence the tank was installed pursuant to the Office of the State Fire Marshal regulatory requirements.

(b) For releases reported prior to the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly, an owner or operator may access the Underground Storage Tank Fund for costs associated with an Agency approved plan and the Agency shall approve the payment of costs associated with corrective action after the application of a $10,000 deductible, except in the following situations:

(1) A deductible of $100,000 shall apply when none of the underground storage tanks were registered prior to July 28, 1989, except in the case of underground storage tanks used exclusively to store heating oil for consumptive use on the premises where stored and which serve other than farms or residential units, a deductible of $100,000 shall apply when none of these tanks were registered prior to July 1, 1992.

(2) A deductible of $50,000 shall apply if any of the underground storage tanks were registered prior to July 28, 1989, and the State received notice of the confirmed release prior to July 28, 1989.

(3) A deductible of $15,000 shall apply when one or more, but not all, of the underground storage tanks were registered prior to July 28, 1989, and the State received notice of the confirmed release on or after July 28, 1989.

For releases reported on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly until the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly, an owner or operator may access the Underground Storage Tank Fund for costs associated with an Agency approved plan, and the Agency shall approve the payment of costs associated with corrective action after the application of a $5,000 deductible.

For a release reported on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly, an owner or operator may access the Underground Storage Tank Fund for costs associated with an Agency approved plan, and the Agency shall approve the payment of costs associated with corrective action without the application of a deductible, except a $5,000 deductible shall apply to an owner or operator of an underground storage tank that is not registered under the Gasoline Storage Act.

A deductible shall apply annually for each site at which costs were incurred under a claim submitted pursuant to this Title, except that if corrective action in response to an occurrence takes place over a period of more than one year, in subsequent years, no deductible shall apply for costs incurred in response to such occurrence.

(c) Eligibility and deductibility determinations shall be made by the Office of the State Fire Marshal.

(1) When an owner or operator reports a confirmed release of a regulated substance, the Office of the State Fire Marshal shall provide the owner or operator with an "Eligibility and Deductibility Determination" form. The form shall either be provided on-site or within 15 days of the Office of the State Fire Marshal receipt of notice indicating a confirmed release. The form shall request sufficient information to enable the Office of the State Fire Marshal to make a final determination as to owner or operator eligibility to access the Underground Storage Tank Fund pursuant to this Title and the appropriate deductible. The form shall be promulgated as a rule or regulation pursuant to the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act by the Office of the State Fire Marshal. Until such form is promulgated, the Office of State Fire Marshal shall use a form which generally conforms with this Act.

(2) Within 60 days of receipt of the "Eligibility and Deductibility Determination" form, the Office of the State Fire Marshal shall issue one letter enunciating the final eligibility and deductibility determination, and such determination or failure to act within the time prescribed shall be a final decision appealable to the Illinois Pollution Control Board.

(Source: P.A. 96-908, eff. 6-8-10.)

(415 ILCS 5/57.11)

Sec. 57.11. Underground Storage Tank Fund; creation.

(a) There is hereby created in the State Treasury a special fund to be known as the Underground Storage Tank Fund. There shall be deposited into the Underground Storage Tank Fund all monies received by the Office of the State Fire Marshal as fees for underground storage tanks under Sections 4 and 5 of the Gasoline Storage Act, fees pursuant to the Motor Fuel Tax Law, and beginning July 1, 2013, payments pursuant to the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. All amounts held in the Underground Storage Tank Fund shall be invested at interest by the State Treasurer. All income earned from the investments shall be deposited into the Underground Storage Tank Fund no less frequently than quarterly. Moneys in the Underground Storage Tank Fund, pursuant to appropriation, may be used by the Agency and the Office of the State Fire Marshal for the following purposes:

(1) To take action authorized under Section 57.12 to recover costs under Section 57.12.

(2) To assist in the reduction and mitigation of damage caused by leaks from underground storage tanks, including but not limited to, providing alternative water supplies to persons whose drinking water has become contaminated as a result of those leaks.

(3) To be used as a matching amount towards federal assistance relative to the release of petroleum from underground storage tanks.

(4) For the costs of administering activities of the Agency and the Office of the State Fire Marshal relative to the Underground Storage Tank Fund.

(5) For payment of costs of corrective action incurred by and indemnification to operators of underground storage tanks as provided in this Title.

(6) For a total of 2 demonstration projects in amounts in excess of a $10,000 deductible charge designed to assess the viability of corrective action projects at sites which have experienced contamination from petroleum releases. Such demonstration projects shall be conducted in accordance with the provision of this Title.

(7) Subject to appropriation, moneys in the Underground Storage Tank Fund may also be used by the Department of Revenue for the costs of administering its activities relative to the Fund and for refunds provided for in Section 13a.8 of the Motor Fuel Tax Act.

(b) Moneys in the Underground Storage Tank Fund may, pursuant to appropriation, be used by the Office of the State Fire Marshal or the Agency to take whatever emergency action is necessary or appropriate to assure that the public health or safety is not threatened whenever there is a release or substantial threat of a release of petroleum from an underground storage tank and for the costs of administering its activities relative to the Underground Storage Tank Fund.

(c) Beginning July 1, 1993, the Governor shall certify to the State Comptroller and State Treasurer the monthly amount necessary to pay debt service on State obligations issued pursuant to Section 6 of the General Obligation Bond Act. On the last day of each month, the Comptroller shall order transferred and the Treasurer shall transfer from the Underground Storage Tank Fund to the General Obligation Bond Retirement and Interest Fund the amount certified by the Governor, plus any cumulative deficiency in those transfers for prior months.

(d) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this Section, the Underground Storage Tank Fund is not subject to administrative charges authorized under Section 8h of the State Finance Act that would in any way transfer any funds from the Underground Storage Tank Fund into any other fund of the State.

(e) Each fiscal year, subject to appropriation, the Agency may commit up to $10,000,000 of the moneys in the Underground Storage Tank Fund to the payment of corrective action costs for legacy sites that meet one or more of the following criteria as a result of the underground storage tank release: (i) the presence of free product, (ii) contamination within a regulated recharge area, a wellhead protection area, or the setback zone of a potable water supply well, (iii) contamination extending beyond the boundaries of the site where the release occurred, or (iv) such other criteria as may be adopted in Agency rules.

(1) Fund moneys committed under this subsection (e) shall be held in the Fund for payment of the corrective action costs for which the moneys were committed.

(2) The Agency may adopt rules governing the commitment of Fund moneys under this subsection (e).

(3) This subsection (e) does not limit the use of Fund moneys at legacy sites as otherwise provided under this Title.

(4) For the purposes of this subsection (e), the term "legacy site" means a site for which (i) an underground storage tank release was reported prior to January 1, 2005, (ii) the owner or operator has been determined eligible to receive payment from the Fund for corrective action costs, and (iii) the Agency did not receive any applications for payment prior to January 1, 2010.

(f) Beginning July 1, 2013, if the amounts deposited into the Fund from moneys received by the Office of the State Fire Marshal as fees for underground storage tanks under Sections 4 and 5 of the Gasoline Storage Act and as fees pursuant to the Motor Fuel Tax Law during a State fiscal year are sufficient to pay all claims for payment by the fund received during that State fiscal year, then the amount of any payments into the fund pursuant to the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act during that State fiscal year shall be deposited as follows: 75% thereof shall be paid into the State treasury and 25% shall be reserved in a special account and used only for the transfer to the Common School Fund as part of the monthly transfer from the General Revenue Fund in accordance with Section 8a of the State Finance Act.

(Source: P.A. 98-109, eff. 7-25-13.)

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect January 1, 2019.